The Introverted One

In a conversation with my colleague, we discussed how important it is to understand various human temperaments. This led to her recommendation of a book called “Quiet: The Power of Introverts” by Susan Cain. It basically explores human nature, and where it derives its sources of energy and where it applies this energy. If our choices are parallel to our human temperament, then we will be able to feel an abundance of energy; otherwise, we will feel depleted. The author primarily focuses on how to embrace the introverted (i.e. quiet) side that is found in personalities. She brings forth various areas where introversion is found (e.g. workplace, schools, relationships, and parenting) and how to deal with it in these scenarios.

In one chapter, Cain touches upon how the North American culture is significantly different from the Asian one. Being Indian myself, we are taught to primarily listen and ask the right questions. I noticed that many typical Canadian/American would primarily talk (rather than listen), which is part of their cultural norm. For me, throughout school, it was a struggle to speak up as I prefer listening and reflecting on the content prior to sharing my thoughts. In many class discussions, I did not get good marks for them because I was much more comfortable in writing or in one-on-one communication. I remember my engineering classmates socialized every evening after classes, while I chose to go home to relax and to decompress. At times, I always wonder why I felt like I did not 'fit in' this North American culture, and now I understand why more clearly thanks to this book. Now, I have learned to embrace how I recharge and use my energy, and respect others who may find their source of energy differently. Everyone has their own unique ways of expressing their energy, and I like the way I express mine :).

If you are interested in seeing where your nature lies in the introvert-extrovert spectrum, you can take this quick quiz: http://www.quietrev.com/the-introvert-test/